Eid al-Fitr 2018: Has the moon been sighted? When will Eid al-Fitr begin?
EID al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and begins when the moon is sighted after sunset. Here is everything you need to know about when Eid Al Fitr will begin.
Due to the Islamic calendar being based on lunar cycles, there is not a fixed date for Eid 2018.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi Al Dhaheri, the UAE's Minister of Justice, issued a decision today to set up a moon-sighting committee to detect the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
When will Eid al-Fitr begin?
The first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, will mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr.
The committee will hold a meeting on Thursday after Maghrib prayer at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
The Justice Minister will lead the meeting, which will include a number of senior officials, state news agency WAM reported.
Sharia courts in Abu Dhabi will also look out for the crescent moon and inform the committee of any sightings.
The International Astronomical Centre said last week that Eid al-Fitr is expected to start on Friday, June 15 in most Islamic countries.
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Eid al-Fitr lasts three days and is also known as the “Breaking of the fast” following Ramadan.
Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, as well as spending time with loved ones.
Muslims also fast during this period, which means they don’t eat or drink between sunrise and sunset to allow more time to focus on their faith.
Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, with the other pillars being faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to Mecca, the Holy City.
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Communities and families usually gather to mark the start of Eid al-Fitr with a lavish meal.
Has the moon been sighted?
The International Astronomical Centre said the moon crescent may be seen through a telescope from the east and southeast of Asia and Europe on Thursday, June 14.